Jewish Student Sues UC Berkeley over Muslim Assault

A Jewish student at the University of California at Berkeley who was attacked by a Muslim student last year has filed suit against UC Berkeley for failing to provide a safe atmosphere. In her suit, 21-year-old Jessica Felber alleges that UC Berkeley did not effectively deal with harassment and intimidation by Muslim and pro-Arab student groups, leading to “a dangerous and threatening environment.”

Felber was attacked by Husam Zakharia, leader of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group, during a rally. At the time, she was holding a sign that said “Israel Wants Peace.”

Zakharia rammed Felber with a shopping cart, causing her injury. Following the assault, she was granted a restraining order against Zakharia.

The assault could have been prevented if campus authorities had taken sufficient care to ensure students’ safety, according to the suit. Instead, UC Berkeley policies “fostered and encouraged” pro-terrorist incitement, “turned a blind eye to the perpetrators of illegal activities,” and “failed to effectively discipline the MSA [Muslim Student Association] and SJP for their pro-terrorist programs, goals and conduct; despite having ample notice that such violence was foreseeable.”

By failing to provide security to Jewish and pro-Israel students, UC Berkeley “condoned and allowed the MSA, the SJP and MSU [Muslim Student Union] to threaten, harass and intimidate Jewish students and to endanger their health and safety.”